Freak snow storm in the Sahara allows local kids to have the time of their lives sliding down sand dunes and making snowmen

This was only the second time in their lifetime they had seen snow in Ain Sefra, Algeria

By Amanda Devlin

12th January 2018, 9:09 am

Updated: 12th January 2018, 12:04 pm

EXCITABLE children living in the Sahara desert made the most of a freak snow storm by sliding down the icy slopes.

Up to 40cm of snow fell over Ain Sefra, Algeria, on Sunday for only the second time in 37 years.

Hamouda Ben Jerad /Geoff Robinson

A young boy slides down snowy slopes in the Sahara desert

Youngsters were pictured playing in the town, known as “The Gateway to the Desert”, as they enjoyed the rare sight.

Some made snow angels, while others built snowmen on the world's hottest desert.

Photographer Karim Bouchetata said: “We were really surprised when we woke up to see snow again.

"It stayed all day on Sunday and began melting at around 5pm.”

Hamouda Ben Jerad /Geoff Robinson

It was the first time many children had ever seen snow in their lifetimes

Hamouda Ben Jerad /Geoff Robinson

The Sahara desert can get as hot as 37C in summer

Hamouda Ben Jerad /Geoff Robinson

There was fun and laughter had on the slopes as children made the most of the freakish weather

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A snow storm hit the Sahara desert on Sunday

The town was hit by an icy blast just before Christmas - but before that residents of Ain Sefra hadn't experienced snow since February 18, 1979.

And even then the snow only lasted half an hour.

Ain Sefra usually sees average temperatures of 37C in summer, while in winter it plummets to -10.2C.

Incredible images from last week show how the unexpected snow, which is several inches deep, covered the Sahara Desert.

Snow started falling in the early hours of Sunday morning and quickly began settling on the sand.

Zineddine Hashas/Geoff Robinson

Snow covers the red dunes of the Sahara after a freak storm hit Algeria

Zineddine Hashas/Geoff Robinson

It's the third time in living memory that snow has fallen in the hottest desert in the world

While the town saw an inch or two, the sand dunes on its outskirts were covered in snow.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "Cold air was pulled down south in to North Africa over the weekend as a result of high pressure over Europe."
"The high pressure meant the cold weather extended further south than normal."

Ain Sefra is located around 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains.

Zineddine Hashas/Geoff Robinson

While the town saw an inch or two, the sand dunes on its outskirts were covered in snow

Zineddine Hashas/Geoff Robinson

The incredible images show the desert town of Ain Sefra surrounded by unexpected snow which is several inches deep

Zineddine Hashas/Geoff Robinson

Ain Sefra is located around 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains

Karim Bouchetata/Geoff Robinson

Despite its altitude, it is extremely rare to see snow in the town

Karim Bouchetata/Geoff Robinson

Last January saw a metre of snow coat the world's hottest desert, with a sprinkling of flakes falling in December 2016

Zineddine Hashas/Geoff Robinson

Prior to that, snow had not been in Ain Sefra since February 18, 1979, when they had a flurry which lasted just 30 minutes

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